St. Paul daily globe., 1887-01-23
A STRANGE ROMANCE.
How a Doctor Popped the Question
when He Did Not kuowa.

Dr Hardin, as his name shall be for thi
occasion (now dead), had but lately arrived
in Americus, Ga. from Savannah, says the
Atlanta Constitution. Being gentleman
of polished address he soon found admission
into the best circles of society, and at once
became indispensable at all social gather
ings. With the ladies he was prime fav-
orite. With one in particular he formed a
close friendship, for it developed that he
had fought in the trenches with her brother,
and it was into his arms that the wounded
man fell when he was staggered by the
bullet which caused his death.
One day Miss Julia, with her widowed
mother, went out on that most important
duty in woman's life-the purchase of a
bridal trousseau. Society had pretty well
guessed the course of affairs Congratula-
tions poured in upon the young lady. all
of which she accepted with becoming mod
esty. The groom eXpectant. however,
acted mysteriously. He never mac refer
ence to the happy affair with which his
name was linked. When a friend con-
graduated him he looked puzzled. but
offered no invitation to attend.
Thus weeks passed. until the date popu-
larly supposed to have been set for the nup-
tiais had gone by. The doctor moved
about the city in his usual unconcern. The
young lady held her grief and disappoint-
ment sacred. and valtured no word of CEN
sure or complaint. In fact. the mystery
became so great that the question as to
whether the couple had ever been engaged
or not became one of violent local agitation.
The soldier friends of the young lady'S
brother, feeling that she was without male
protection, determined that she should not
be imposed upon. They met to the number
OF dozen, late one evening, by the cotton
warehouse of Harold & johnson, and
agreed to call on the doctor and get an eX-
planaton. They reached his room and
were told that he had gone out not five
minutes before and would not be back until
after midnight. In order to fill in the time
until that hour the party went to Miss
Julia's house to consult her about the mat
ter. They were surprised to find the doc
tor there, while near him sat the young lady
in tears.
One of the men, maddened at the doctors
icy indifference, rushed over to him and
grasping him by the shoulder shook him
violently. The doctor yawned deeply. He
arose and rubbed his eyes, and looking
around him in the utmost bewilderment
asked:
hOW CdlnG I I6TG! 1lllS Is so very
strange. l went to bed in my room at s
o'clock, and thought until this moment that
l was still there"
He was SOmnambuliSt
In the talk which followed the whole
matter was made plain. After having vis-
tied Miss Julia twice, he began coming at 9
o'clock. when he was not expected. His
manner was somewhat stiff and formal, but
he pressed his suit with perseverance. He
would never make the remotest reference
to any other subject. He never thought of
leaving until a few minutes before in the
morning. His late hour in coming. his
late hour in leaving, always seemed strange:
but. as his behavior was always most cir
cumSpect, it was Tot thought of after the
first few nights. Thus he proposed, was
accepted. had the date appointed. and
passed it over. In his waking hours he had
no recollection whatever of the events of
the night before.
After the matter mad been thus made
plain the doctor said:
Now, Miss Julia, since all this has
transpired in my sleep. | may as well tell
you that your image has been impressed
upon my heart all along. Will you consent
again to my prOposal?"
1t was too plain that no opposition existed
there. Soon the license was procured, the
minister called in, and the happy pair were
made one.
But one chapter more remains to be told
When the yellow fever broke out in Savan-
nah with such virulence about ten years
ago, DIR. Hardin was one of the most zeal
Gus in waiting upon the sick in that city
He never refused the call of duty. At last
he, too, Succumbed 10 the dread destroyer,
and he now sleeps with the silent majority.